U.S. patent number 9,482,494 [Application Number 14/736,980] was granted by the patent office on 2016-11-01 for bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Southern States, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Samuel Harmon, David Lombardo, Joseph R. Rostron, Scott White. Invention is credited to Samuel Harmon, David Lombardo, Joseph R. Rostron, Scott White.
United States Patent |
9,482,494 |
Lombardo , et al. |
November 1, 2016 |
Bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment
Abstract
A bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment
constructed from standardized modular sections configured for easy
erection in the field into walls and enclosures. The modular
sections may be constructed at a factory and transported to the
desired location where the sections are assembled together into
walls and enclosures. The modules are sized for transportation by
trucks over public roadway, rail, barge and so forth. Concrete
foundations may be installed prior to arrival of the modular
sections to ready the site for erection of the shied structure upon
arrival of the modular sections. Unlike conventional bullet
resistant enclosures, these sections provide adequate ventilation
to avoid overheating of air-cooled electric power equipment, such
as large substation transformers. One or more electric fans may be
mounted in the section to provide forced air ventilation. The wall
may be positioned to allow walk-up maintenance access without the
use of doors.
Inventors: |
Lombardo; David (Hampton,
GA), White; Scott (Hampton, GA), Harmon; Samuel
(Hampton, GA), Rostron; Joseph R. (Hampton, GA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lombardo; David
White; Scott
Harmon; Samuel
Rostron; Joseph R. |
Hampton
Hampton
Hampton
Hampton |
GA
GA
GA
GA |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Southern States, LLC (Hampton,
GA)
|
Family
ID: |
57189354 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/736,980 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H
5/24 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41H
5/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;89/36.01,36.02,36.04 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chambers; Troy
Assistant Examiner: Cochran; Bridget
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mehrman Law Office Mehrman; Michael
J.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment,
comprising: a plurality of similarly configured modules; wherein
each module includes a frame carrying a plurality of front-side
panels forming a vertical front wall attached to a front side of
the frame and a plurality of rear-side panels forming a vertical
rear wall attached to a rear side of the frame, wherein the front
wall is horizontally spaced apart from the rear wall, the
front-side panels are spaced apart from each other forming one or
more front-side openings, the rear-side panels are spaced apart
from each other forming one or more rear-side openings, each
front-side opening is horizontally aligned with a rear-side panel,
and each rear-side opening is horizontally aligned with a
front-side panel to provide ventilation through the module; wherein
multiple modules are connected to each other to form the shield;
and wherein each panel is electrically non-conductive, thermally
non-conductive, electromagnetically transparent, and has a bullet
resistant characteristic meeting at least a United Laboratories
(UL) 752 Level 1 Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment.
2. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, wherein the frame
comprises I-beams having a width of about one foot.
3. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, wherein each module
comprises three front-side panels and three rear-side panels, each
panel having a width of about 10 feet and a height of about 2
feet.
4. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, wherein each panel has a
weight less than about 25% of a similarly sized steel panel.
5. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, wherein each module
comprises one or more eyes for lifting the module.
6. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, wherein the panels have:
a deepness of about 1/4 inches and a ballistic rating of UL752
Level 1; a deepness of about 3/8 inches and a ballistic rating of
UL752 Level 2; or a deepness of about 1/2 inches and a ballistic
rating of UL752 Level 3.
7. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, further comprising a
ventilation fan disposed in a panel configured to direct cooling
air onto equipment positioned adjacent to the shield.
8. The bullet resistant shield of claim 1, further comprising one
or more opening for maintenance and wherein the bullet resistant
shield comprises a plurality of sections position to provide
gunfire protection while leaving physical openings to allow walk-up
access for personnel without requiring a physical door.
9. A method for constructing a bullet resistant shield for electric
power equipment, comprising: manufacturing a plurality of similarly
configured modules, wherein each module includes a frame carrying a
plurality of front-side panels attached to a front side of the
frame forming a vertical front wall, and a plurality of rear-side
panels attached to a rear side of the frame forming a vertical rear
wall, wherein the front wall is horizontally spaced apart from the
rear wall, the front-side panels are spaced apart from each other
forming one or more front-side openings, the rear-side panels are
spaced apart from each other forming one or more rear-side
openings, each front-side opening is horizontally aligned with a
rear-side panel, and each rear-side opening is horizontally aligned
with a front-side panel to provide ventilation through the module;
and wherein each panel is electrically non-conductive, thermally
non-conductive, electromagnetically transparent, and has a bullet
resistant characteristic meeting at least a United Laboratories
(UL) 752 Level 1 Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment;
transporting the modules to a location of electrical equipment to
be protected; and effecting and attaching the modules to each other
to create the bullet resistant shield in a position selected to
protect the electrical equipment from gunfire.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises I-beams
having a width of about one foot.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein each module comprises three
front-side panels and three rear-side panels, each panel having a
width of about 10 feet and a height of about 2 feet.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein each panel has a weight less
than about 25% of a similarly sized steel panel.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein each module comprises one or
more eyes for lifting the module.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the panels have: a deepness of
about 1/4 inches and a ballistic rating of UL752 Level 1; a
deepness of about 3/8 inches and a ballistic rating of UL752 Level
2; or a deepness of about 1/8 inches and a ballistic rating of
UL752 Level 3.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising a ventilation fan
disposed in a panel configured to direct cooling air onto equipment
positioned adjacent to the shield.
16. The bullet resistant shield of claim 9, further comprising one
or more opening for maintenance and wherein the bullet resistant
shield comprises a plurality of sections position to provide
gunfire protection while leaving physical openings to allow walk-up
access for personnel without requiring a physical door.
17. A bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment,
comprising: a frame carrying a plurality of front-side panels
forming a vertical front wall attached to a front side of the frame
and a plurality of rear-side panels forming a vertical rear wall
attached to a rear side of the frame; wherein the front wall is
horizontally spaced apart from the rear wall, the front-side panels
are spaced apart from each other forming one or more front-side
openings, the rear-side panels are spaced apart from each other
forming one or more rear-side openings, each front-side opening is
horizontally aligned with a rear-side panel, and each rear-side
opening is horizontally aligned with a front-side panel to provide
ventilation through the shield; and wherein each panel is
electrically non-conductive, thermally non-conductive,
electromagnetically transparent, and has a bullet resistant
characteristic meeting at least a United Laboratories (UL) 752
Level 1 Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment.
18. The bullet resistant shield of claim 17, wherein the frame
comprises I-beams having a width of about one foot.
19. The bullet resistant shield of claim 17, wherein the panels
have: a deepness of about 1/4 inches and a ballistic rating of
UL752 Level 1; a deepness of about 3/8 inches and a ballistic
rating of UL752 Level 2; or a deepness of about 1/2 inches and a
ballistic rating of UL752 Level 3.
20. The bullet resistant shield of claim 17, further comprising a
ventilation fan disposed in a panel configured to direct cooling
air onto equipment positioned adjacent to the shield.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to bullet resistant shielding and,
more particularly, to bullet resistant shields for electric power
equipment.
BACKGROUND
Terrorism, vandalism, war and firearms accidents can expose
electric power equipment to gunfire. Electric power transformers
located in transmission and distribution substations can be
particularly vulnerable because they are relatively large targets
located in virtually every community. The transformers are
typically air-cooled and filled with oil or gel that can escape if
the casing is pierced by gunfire resulting overheating, failure and
a potential fire hazard. A single substation outage can affect a
large number of customers and take several days to repair. Current
bullet resistant shields designed for military vehicles and
structures do not provide adequate ventilation for electric power
equipment. While basic ballistic coverings and panels are
commercially available from a number of vendors, there are no
systems currently available for conveniently assembling the
coverings or panels into wall and enclosures at existing electric
equipment locations. As a result, there is continuing need for
improved bullet resistant shielding for electric power
equipment.
SUMMARY
The present invention may be embodied in a modular bullet resistant
shield for electric power equipment constructed from standardized,
ventilated sections designed for easy erection in the field into
walls and enclosures. Unlike conventional bullet resistant
enclosures, these sections provide adequate ventilation to avoid
overheating of air-cooled electric power equipment, such as large
substation transformers.
It will be understood that additional techniques and structures for
implementing particular embodiments of the invention and
accomplishing the associated advantages will become apparent from
the following detailed description of the embodiments and the
appended drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bullet resistant enclosure
shielding an electric power substation.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bullet resistant wall shielding
an electric power substation.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modular bullet resistant wall for
electric power equipment.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the modular bullet resistant wall.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a modular bullet resistant section.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the modular bullet resistant section.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual illustration of a first bullet resistant
shield configuration for protected equipment.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual illustration of a second bullet resistant
shield configuration for protected equipment.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration of a third bullet resistant
shield configuration for protected equipment.
FIG. 10 is a ballistic rating chart for illustrative panel
configurations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the invention may be realized in a bullet resistant
shield for electric power equipment constructed from standardized
modular sections configured for easy erection in the field into
walls and enclosures. The modular sections may be constructed at a
factory and transported to the desired location where the sections
are assembled together into walls and enclosures. The modules are
sized for transportation by trucks over public roadways, rail,
barge and so forth. Concrete foundations may be installed prior to
arrival of the modular sections to ready the site for erection of
the shield structure upon arrival of the modular sections.
Unlike conventional bullet resistant enclosures, these utility
grade sections provide adequate ventilation to avoid overheating of
air-cooled electric power equipment, such as large substation
transformers. The panels may include sufficient vertical overlap to
prevent penetration of projectiles from vertical angles anticipated
from a perpetrator intending to cause damage. The walls forming the
enclosures may be placed to provide gunfire protection while
allowing walk-up maintenance access without the use of doors or
other movable entrance barriers. In an illustrative embodiment,
ventilation is provided by mounting alternate panels on opposing
sides of a galvanized steel frame. An uncovered portion at the
bottom of the section may provide additional ventilation. One or
more electric fans may also be mounted in the module to provide
forced air ventilation. Clips provide attachment points for
attaching sections together and eye hooks provide crane attachment
points to facilitate assembly of sections into walls and enclosures
in the field.
The panels, frames and sections are standardized for modular
construction and to provide a common inventory for multiple
structures. Standard panel heights are 36'' and 48'', and standard
widths are 84'', 96'', 108'' and 120'' (corresponding to standard
module widths). A typical 6-panel section utilizing
48''.times.120'' panels is about 24 feet tall by 10 feet wide. The
typical galvanized steel frame is an I-beam construction about one
foot deep. Although galvanized steel is considered the best frame
option for most locations in the United States, other types of
frames, such as fiberglass, wood, composite or other suitable
materials may be used as a matter of design choice. Typical beam
spacing is 5 feet resulting in each 10-foot wide modular section
having a beam on either end and in the center of the section.
Horizontal beams may also be locate at approximately 5 foot
intervals, typically with a horizontal beam at the top but not at
the bottom of the section. The illustrative 10'.times.24' sections
shown in the figures are approximately to scale. The panels may be
attached to the frame with any suitable fasteners such as carriage
bolts, rivets, rivet nuts or other fasteners.
The bullet resistant sections offer military grade protection for
critical utility infrastructure facilities and equipment.
Originally developed for use by the Department of Defense for
protection from mortar fire, the ballistic panels offer superior
bullet resistance and a significant weight advantage over commonly
used products. The panels are constructed from multiple layers of
woven fiberglass encapsulated with resin that produces a rigid
panel with exceptional ballistic resistance. The unique composite
matrix of the panels allow for retention of the projectile to avoid
potentially hazardous ricochet. These protection products offer
ballistic resistant security with the additional performance
advantages of durability, corrosion resistance, electrical
non-conductivity, low thermal conductivity and light weight
(approximately 25% the weight of steel). Ballistic panels with
United Laboratories (UL) 752 Standard for Bullet-Resisting
Equipment ratings are available from a number of vendors including
Armorco of Ashtabula, Ohio (armorco.com) and Gaffco.RTM. Ballistics
(www.gaffco.com). The modular walls and enclosures also allow
individual sections to be temporarily removed and replaced as
needed. This allows the walls and enclosures be partially
disassembled to the extent necessary to allow major maintenance,
such as replacement of a transformer or other large piece of
equipment, to allow crane or other vehicle access to the protected
equipment, and so forth.
In an illustrative panel, the surface finish is smooth, off-white
in color and suitable for painting with custom colors available in
production quantities. Standard panels may be provided in a variety
of sizes and thicknesses, with a nominal thicknesses options of
1/4'', 3/8'' and 1/2'' for protection to UL 752 Standard for
Bullet-Resisting Equipment levels 1, 2 & 3, respectively, and
National Institute for Justice (NW) Levels I, II & IIIA test
standards, respectively. Additional levels of protection can be
provided by layering these standard panels. The panels are
particularly well suited for shielding electric power equipment
because they are electrically non-conductive, thermally
non-conductive, electromagnetically transparent, easily erected at
typical substation locations, corrosion resistant, durable, and
paintable allowing for custom colors. The panels are also
non-ricochet as they retain projectiles and lightweight at
approximately 25% the weight of steel.
FIGS. 1-9 show particular examples using standard 10'.times.24'
modular sections containing six panels connected to a steel frame
(three front-side panels, and three back-side panels) providing
ventilation through the modules. It will be appreciated that the
number of panels in a module, the size of the panels, and the
dimensions of the modular section may be changed as a matter or
design choice. Panels of different sizes may also be combined in a
module as a matter of design choice. The number of sections and the
shape of particular walls and enclosures mays also be selected as a
matter of design choice. Similarly, the deepness of the panels,
color, shape, type of fasteners and other details may also be
selected as a matter of design choice. A variety of standardized
panels (e.g., different heights, different widths, etc.) may also
be provided as desired.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bullet resistant enclosure 10
(two walls 12 are shown) shielding an electric power substation.
This particular enclosure is assembled from standard 10'.times.24'
modular sections with five sections forming a first wall and seven
sections forming the other wall. The nominal size of the enclosure
is therefore 50'.times.70' and 24' tall. Depending on the site
configuration and exposure to roads, shielding may be provided on
one side (e.g., a single wall), on two sides as shown in FIG. 1 or
on three or four sides.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bullet resistant wall 12
shielding an electric power substation. Alternating panels (from
top to bottom) forming the wall are mounted on opposing sides of a
steel frame providing ventilation through the wall. An illustrative
passage 13 is labeled on the figure. There is also an uncovered
section 15 at the bottom wall providing further ventilation. The
uncovered bottom portion does not expose equipment to gunfire risk
because only concrete foundations supporting the protected
equipment are typically exposed at this level.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view and FIG. 4 is a front view of a
modular bullet resistant wall 12 for electric power equipment. The
wall is formed from a number of modular sections 14 attached to a
steel frame 20. The frame includes I-beam and cross beams typically
at 5 foot intervals. Each section includes three bullet resistant
front-side panels 16a-c attached to the front of the frame and
three bullet resistant rear-side panels 18a-c attached the back of
the frame. The panels are spaced apart without vertical overlap (or
with a small vertically overlap to provide gunfire protection from
likely gunfire angles while still providing adequate ventilation)
to provide full coverage except for a 2' uncovered portion 15 at
the bottom of the wall. Clips 22a-c attach adjacent panels
together. Corner fasteners are also provided for attaching walls
together at right angles and other desired connection angles. Eyes
24 on the top of the sections are provided for lifting the sections
with a crane.
FIG. 5 is a front view and FIG. 6 is a side view of one module 14.
This embodiment includes additional ventilation fans 26 to
facilitate air cooling of the protected equipment. The fans are
typically located in the bottom panels to facilitate an inward and
upward air circulation pattern across the protected equipment. The
type and capacity of the fans may be selected as a matter of design
choice based on the needs of the protected equipment.
Many different protective wall and enclosure layouts may be
designed to suit different site conditions, cost and protection
objectives. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a few basic design examples. FIG.
7 is a conceptual illustration of a first bullet resistant shield
configuration for protected equipment 72. This configuration is a
wall 70 sized and spaced apart from the protected equipment 72
sufficiently to allow walk-up maintenance access without the use of
doors while protecting the equipment from available angles of
attack 74a-b based on the site configuration. This shield
configuration may be suitable for equipment located outside a
building to provide protection from a roadway to one side of the
equipment.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual illustration of a second bullet resistant
shield configuration 80 for the protected equipment 72. This
configuration includes inset side walls 82a-b and cornered end
walls 84a-b. The walls are spaced apart to provide walk-up
maintenance access openings 88a-d. This configuration provides full
protection from all sides of the equipment to provide projectile
protection while leaving physical openings to allow walk-up access
for personnel without requiring a physical door that would
otherwise be needed to provide to provide a full protection
envelope.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration of a third bullet resistant
shield configuration 90 for protected equipment. This configuration
includes an outer wall 92 in from of an enclosure 94 with a
maintenance opening. This alternative also shows example placement
of the ventilation fans 26.
FIG. 10 is a ballistic rating chart for illustrative panel
configurations having nominal size, deepness and weight
specifications.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that present
invention provides significant improvements in bullet resistant
shielding for electric power equipment. The foregoing relates only
to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that
numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following
claims.
* * * * *